Still, I dare not draw back,
as I should then risk--which may possibly happen in any case--being
hindered from my examination by being called out by the conscription and
perhaps come to lie in my grave as _Studiosus_ instead of
_candidatus magisterii_, which latter looks infinitely more
impressive and is more satisfying to a man as greedy of honour as Your
respectful and heartily affectionate, etc."
XIV.
Shortly before, I had paid my first visit to Professor Rasmus Nielsen.
He was exceedingly agreeable, recognised me, whom perhaps he remembered
examining, and accorded me a whole hour's conversation. He was, as
always, alert and fiery, not in the least blase, but with a slight
suggestion of charlatanism about him. His conversation was as lively and
disconnected as his lectures; there was a charm in the clear glance of
his green eyes, a look of genius about his face. He talked for a long
time about Herbart, whose Aesthetics, for that matter, he betrayed
little knowledge of, then of Hegel, Heiberg, and Kierkegaard. To my
intense surprise, he opened up a prospect, conflicting with the opinions
he had publicly advocated, that Science, "when analyses had been carried
far enough," might come to prove the possibility of miracles. This was
an offence against my most sacred convictions.
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